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Employers beg for talent

Growing skills shortage in Canadian industries, report shows

Many Canadian employers are struggling to find the right talent for specific jobs amid a growing skills shortage.

Photograph by: Stock photo
, Thinkstock

Many Canadian employers are struggling to find the right talent for specific jobs amid a growing skills shortage, says Randstad Canada's latest Global Workmonitor report released recently.

The report described Canada's growing shortage of highly skilled labour as critical and predicted shortages in the manufacturing, automation and energy and utility industries with Calgary one of the regions experiencing this issue.

Jan Hein Bax, president of Randstad Canada, said many businesses are experiencing difficulties finding skilled workers to meet their specific needs.

"The demographic shift resulting in retirements, a deepening shortfall of skilled workers and the growing mismatch between the skills needed and those available has evolved into an undeniable skills crisis," he said.

According to survey respondents, 66 per cent of Canadian employers have trouble finding the right people for specific jobs. And 58 per cent believe Canadian employers are experiencing problems finding highly qualified people. Also, 55 per cent of Canadian employees say they expect a shortage of highly qualified employees within the next three years.

"According to our internal figures, Randstad Canada has seen shortages in the manufacturing, automation and energy and utility industries this year," said Bax.

"And within these three industries, the Greater Toronto Area, Montreal and Calgary regions specifically experienced difficulties finding engineering talent. In terms of roles, draftsmen, mechanical engineers and mechanical designers proved to be the roles that were hardest to fill within the above regions and industries."

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